The agency took "emergency measures" on April 25 after vandals ripped down signs and smashed illuminated signs at the Diana Memorial and Victorian lamps, costing the agency £2,500.

The park gates which have remained open from time immemorial have temporarily been shut from 10.30pm to 5.30am, although the agency has promised to reopen them in a few weeks' time.

In the 18th century Hampton Wick cobbler Timothy Bennett won a lengthy court battle to get the park opened to the public and a statue to him still stands in the village.

Hampton Wick resident Sue Viney said she was "incensed" that the gates had been shut.

"My husband works until 10pm and he jogs in the park when he gets back home. I'm a member of Hampton Hill Theatre and go across the park to get there," she said.

"We use the park constantly and love it dearly but to find all the pedestrian gates padlocked is simply not on."

Park manager Ray Brodie said he recognised the closure was rushed through but said he had to act fast, although he did contact some residents' groups.

"It's probable there are some people thinking the Royal Parks Agency is throwing its weight around," he said.

"But I can assure people the parks will be open again. This is something we have monitored over the past month and it helped us over the silly season when children are off school."

"My duty first of all is to the park. I have got to protect the fabric of the park and just don't have the money to repair constant damage."

Hampton Wick councillor and newly elected GLA representative for South West London Tony Arbour said to the best of his knowledge the park had never been closed to the public except when deer were being culled.

He said he sympathised with fighting vandalism but added it looked like high-handed behaviour by the agency because no-one was informed about the closures.